Inhibitory Evaluation and Molecular Docking Analysis of Benzenesulfonamides on Carbonic Anhydrase II

Sulfonamides is an important class of compounds, which can be used as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Nine different benzenesulfonamide compounds were synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on carbonic anhydrase II were studied by esterase method and molecular docking. The results showed that compounds (IId)–(IIg) with nitro and acetamide groups on the benzene ring exhibited excellent carbonic anhydrase II inhibitory activities. Molecular docking showed that compared with the control inhibitor acetazolamide, the compounds (IId)–(IIg) docked at the carbonic anhydrase II active site and showed higher binding energy and stronger binding ability. The physical and chemical properties of all compounds were studied by Molinspiration, which showed outstanding drug-like properties and ADME properties. Cytotoxicity assay results showed that compounds (IIe) and (IIf) were almost non-toxic to HepG2 and RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, the compounds (IIe) and (IIf) have a certain application prospect as new inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase II.